SHIM SCORE (Sexual Health Inventory for Men)

Erectile Dysfunction is often self diagnosed by patients causing anxiety and disturbance in personal life. SHIM score can help in the diagnosis of Erectile Dysfunction and to assess its severity. 

For each question, select the number next to the response that best describes your experience. Then add these numbers and calculate your score.

Over the past 6 months:

Question 1. How do you rate your confidence that you could get and keep an erection?

1- Very low
2- Low
3- Moderate
4- High
5- Very high

Question 2. When you had erections with sexual stimulation, how often were your erections hard enough for penetration (entering your partner)?

0- No sexual activity
1- Almost never or never
2- A few times (much less than half the time)
3- Sometimes (about half the time)
4- Most times (much more than half the time)
5- Almost always or always

Question 3. During sexual intercourse, how often were you able to maintain your erection after you had penetrated (entered) your partner?

0- Did not attempt intercourse
1- Almost never or never
2- A few times (much less than half the time)
3- Sometimes (about half the time)
4- Most times (much more than half the time)
5- Almost always or always

Question 4. During sexual intercourse, how difficult was it to maintain your erection to completion of intercourse?

0- Did not attempt intercourse
1- Extremely difficult
2- Very difficult
3- Difficult
4- Slightly difficult
5- Not difficult

Question 5. When you attempted sexual intercourse, how often was it satisfactory for you?

0- Did not attempt intercourse
1- Almost never or never
2- A few times (much less than half the time)
3- Sometimes (about half the time)
4- Most times (much more than half the time)
5- Almost always or always

You may have signs of

Severe ED with SHIM score 1-7  

Moderate ED witn SHIM score 8-11 

Mild to moderate ED with SHIM score 12-16

Mild ED with SHIM score 17-21

No signs of ED with SHIM score 22-25

Further information about diagnosis and treatment of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) can be found on the post about patient information. 

Adapted from: Rosen RC, Cappelleri JC, Smith MD, Lipsky J, Peña BM. Development and evaluation of an abridged, 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction (IIEF-5) as a diagnostic tool for erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res. 1999;11:319-326.